Paging method and paging apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided are a paging method and a paging apparatus. The method comprises: a network device receiving state information about a remote terminal device; the network device determining, according to the state information, a paging mode for paging the remote terminal device; and the network device paging the remote terminal device according to the paging mode. It can thus be ensured that a network device correctly pages a remote terminal device.

CROSS-INTERFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/496,874 filed on Sep. 23, 2019 which is an application under U.S.C.371 of International Application No. PCT/CN2017/7079317 filed on Apr. 1,2017, which claims the benefit of PCT Application No. PCT/CN2017/077939filed with the Patent Office of the People's Republic of China on Mar.23, 2017 and entitled “PAGING METHOD AND PAGING DEVICE”, the contents ofeach of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments of the disclosure relate to the field of communication,and particularly to a method for paging and a device for paging in thefield of communication.

BACKGROUND

In a cellular communication system, a network device may send a pagingmessage to a terminal device through an air interface message, and theterminal device receives the paging message of the network device. In amixed scenario of cellular communication and device-to-device (D2D)communication, an urgent problem to be solved is how to correctly pagethe terminal device by the network device.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for paging and adevice for paging, thereby ensuring that a network device correctlypages a remote terminal device.

A method for paging is provided in a first aspect, which includesoperations as follows. A network device receives state information of aremote terminal device. The network device determines a paging mannerfor paging the remote terminal device based on the state information.The network device pages the remote terminal device in the pagingmanner.

Therefore, in the embodiments of the disclosure, the network devicedetermines the paging manner for paging the remote terminal device basedon the state information of the remote terminal device, thereby avoidinga paging failure caused by blind paging of the network device, andensuring that the network device correctly pages the remote terminaldevice.

Optionally, the state information may be used to indicate whether theremote terminal device has a subscription relationship and/or aconnection relationship with a relay terminal device, and/or indicatewhether the remote terminal device is within coverage of a network.

Optionally, the state information may also be information about whetherthe terminal device is in a connected state, or information aboutWhether the terminal device is in an idle state and the like. Content ofthe state information is not limited in the embodiments of thedisclosure, and may be any information used by the network device todetermine the paging manner.

Therefore, in the embodiments of the disclosure, the terminal devicereports state information thereof, and the network device determines amanner for paging the terminal device based on the state information,thereby avoiding a paging failure caused in a case that the networkdevice performs paging through an air interface message when the remoteterminal device is out of the coverage of the network and avoiding apaging failure caused in a case that network device performs paging bythe relay terminal device when the remote terminal device has no trustrelationship with the relay terminal device. With the method for pagingaccording to the embodiments of the disclosure, the network deviceperforms paging based on the state information of the terminal device,thereby ensuring paging accuracy.

Optionally, the network device may be a first access network devicehaving a connection relationship with the terminal device, the networkdevice may also be a first core network device having a connectionrelationship with the terminal device, and the network device may alsobe at least one second access network device in the same networkcoverage area or the same paging area as the first access networkdevice, which is not limited in the embodiments of the disclosure.

Optionally, in responsive to that the state information indicateswhether the remote terminal device has the subscription relationshipand/or the connection relationship with the relay terminal device, theoperation that the state information indicates the subscriptionrelationship and/or connection relationship between the remote terminaldevice and the relay terminal device may include operations as follows.The remote terminal device acquires the subscription relationship and/orthe connection relationship, and sends the state information to thenetwork device through the relay terminal device. Alternatively, therelay terminal device acquires the subscription relationship and/or theconnection relationship and sends the state information to the networkdevice.

Optionally, the state information may also indicate whether the remoteterminal device has a trust relationship with the relay terminal device.

In some implementation, the paging manner includes paging through an airinterface message or paging through a relay terminal device having thesubscription relationship and/or the connection relationship with theremote terminal device.

In some implementation, the operation that the network device determinesthe paging manner for paging the remote terminal device based on thestate information includes operations as follows. If the stateinformation indicates that the remote terminal device is within thecoverage of the network, the network device determines that the pagingmanner for the remote terminal device is the paging through the airinterface message.

In some implementation, the operation that the network device determinesthe paging manner for paging the remote terminal device based on thestate information includes operations as follows. If the stateinformation is used to indicate that the remote terminal device has thesubscription relationship and/or the connection relationship with therelay terminal device, the network device determines that the pagingmanner for the remote terminal device is the paging through the relayterminal device.

In some implementation, the operation that the network device determinesthat the paging manner for the remote terminal device is the pagingthrough the relay terminal device if the state information indicatesthat: the remote terminal device has the subscription relationshipand/or the connection relationship with the relay terminal deviceincludes operations as follows. If the state information indicates thatthe remote terminal device has the subscription relationship and/or theconnection relationship with the relay terminal device, and the remoteterminal device is within the coverage of the network, the networkdevice determines that the paging manner for the remote terminal deviceis the paging through the relay terminal device. In practical, thenetwork device may also page the remote terminal device through the airinterface message, which is not limited in the embodiments of thedisclosure. Which paging manner is adopted may be determined accordingto specification of the protocol.

In some implementation, the operation that the network device determinesthe paging manner for paging the remote terminal device based on thestate information includes operations as follows. If the stateinformation indicates that the remote terminal device has nosubscription relationship and/or connection relationship with the relayterminal device, and the remote terminal device is out of the coverageof the network, the network device determines that the paging manner forthe remote terminal device is the paging through the relay terminaldevice.

In some implementation, the state information includes identificationinformation of a network where the remote terminal device is located,and quality information on a link between the remote terminal device anda network device corresponding to the identification information of thenetwork.

In some implementation, the state information includes identification.information of the relay terminal device having the subscriptionrelationship and/or the connection relationship with the remote terminaldevice and quality information on a link between the remote terminaldevice and the relay terminal device.

In some implementation, the operation that the network device receivesthe state information of the remote terminal device includes anoperation as follows. The network device receives the state informationsent by the remote terminal device through the air interface message.

Optionally, the first access network device receives the stateinformation sent by the remote terminal device through the air interfacemessage; or the at least one second access network device receives thestate information sent by the remote terminal device through the airinterface message; or the first core network device receives the stateinformation sent by the remote terminal device through the air interfacemessage.

In some implementation, the operation that the network device receivesthe state information of the remote terminal device includes anoperation as follows. The network device receives the state informationsent by the remote terminal device through the relay terminal device.

Optionally, the first access network device receives the stateinformation sent by the remote terminal device through the relayterminal device; or the at least one second access network devicereceives the state information sent by the remote terminal devicethrough the relay terminal device; or the first core network devicereceives the state information sent by the remote terminal devicethrough the relay terminal device.

In some implementation, the network device is a first access networkdevice, The first access network device may be an access network deviceconnected with the remote terminal device. In this case, the remoteterminal device may directly send the state information to the firstaccess network device.

In some implementation, the operation that the network device receivesthe state information of the remote terminal device includes anoperation as follows. The first access network device receives the stateinformation, sent by the remote terminal device, of the remote terminaldevice.

In some implementation, the operation that the network device receivesthe state information of the remote terminal device includes anoperation as follows. The first access network device receives the stateinformation sent by a first core network device. The state informationsent by the first core network device is sent to the first core networkdevice by the remote terminal device.

Optionally, the network device may be the first access network device,the remote terminal device sends the state information to the first corenetwork device, the first core network device sends the stateinformation to the first access network device, and the first accessnetwork device determines the paging manner for paging the remoteterminal device.

Optionally, the network device may also be the first core networkdevice, and the first core network device may determine the pagingmanner for paging the remote terminal device and send information aboutthe determined paging manner to the first access network deviceconnected wide the terminal device.

In some implementation, the network device is the first access networkdevice, and the operation that the network device receives the stateinformation of the remote terminal device includes an operation asfollows. The first access network device receives the state informationsent by at least one second access network device. The state informationsent by the at least one second access network device is sent to the atleast one second access network device by the remote terminal device.

Optionally, the network device may be the at least one second accessnetwork device, the remote terminal device sends the state informationto the at least one second access network device, the at least onesecond access network device sends the state information to the firstaccess network device, and the first access network device determinesthe paging manner for paging the remote terminal device. The at leastone second access network device is different from the first accessnetwork device, the at least one second access network device and thefirst access network device may be access network devices within thecoverage of the same network, or the at least one second access networkdevice and the first access network device may be access network devicesin the same paging area.

Optionally, the network device may also be the at least one secondaccess network device. In this case, the at least one access networkdevice may determine the paging manner for paging the remote terminaldevice and send the information about the determined paging manner tothe first access network device connected with the terminal device.

In some implementation, the operation that the first access networkdevice receives the state information sent by the first core networkdevice includes operations as follows. The first access network devicereceives a first paging request message sent by the first core networkdevice. The first paging request message carries the state information.Paging may be initiated by the first core network device. In this case,the first core network device, when the remote terminal device is to bepaged, sends the first paging request message to the first accessnetwork device. The first paging request message carries the stateinformation. The first access network device determines the pagingmanner based on the state information carried in the first pagingrequest message.

Optionally, paging may be initiated the first core network device. Thefirst core network device determines the paging manner for paging theremote terminal device based on the received state information. When thefirst core network device requires paging the remote terminal device,the first core network device may carry information about the pagingmanner in the first paging request message, and send the first pagingrequest message to the first access network device, and the first accessnetwork device pages the remote terminal device based on the informationabout the paging manner carried in the first paging request message.

In some implementation, the operation that the first access networkdevice receives the state information sent by the at least one secondaccess network device includes operations as follows. The first accessnetwork device receives a second paging request message sent by the atleast one second access network device. The second paging requestmessage carries the state information. Paging may be initiated by the atleast one second access network device. In this case, the at least onesecond access network device, when the remote terminal device is to bepaged, sends the second paging request message to the first accessnetwork device. The second paging request message carries the stateinformation. The first access network device determines the pagingmanner based on the state information carried in the first pagingrequest message.

Optionally, paging may be initiated by the at least one second accessnetwork device, the at least one second access network device determinesthe paging manner for paging the remote terminal device based on thereceived state information. When the at least one second access networkdevice requires paging the remote terminal device, the at least onesecond access network device may carry the information about the pagingmanner in the second paging request message, and send the second pagingrequest message to the first access network device. The first accessnetwork device pages the remote terminal device based on the informationabout the paging manner carried in the first paging request message.

A method for paging is provided in a second aspect, which includesoperations as follows. A remote terminal device determines stateinformation. The remote terminal device sends the state information to anetwork device, where the state information is used by the networkdevice to determine a paging manner for paging the remote terminaldevice.

Optionally, the remote terminal device may receive or monitor a pagingmessage sent by the network device.

Optionally, the state information is used to indicate whether the remoteterminal device has a subscription relationship and/or a connectionrelationship with a relay terminal device, and/or indicate whether theremote terminal device is within coverage of a network.

In some implementation, the operation that the remote terminal devicesends the state information to the network device includes an operationas follows. The remote terminal device sends the state information tothe network device through an air interface message.

Optionally, the remote terminal device sends the state information to afirst access network device through the air interface message; or theremote terminal device sends the state information to a first corenetwork device through the air interface message; or the remote terminaldevice sends the state information to at least one second access networkdevice through the air interface message.

In some implementation, the operation that the remote terminal devicesends the state information to the network device includes an operationas follows. The remote terminal device sends the state information tothe network device through the relay terminal device.

Optionally, the remote terminal device sends the state information tothe first access network device through the relay terminal device; orthe remote terminal device sends the state information to the first corenetwork device through the relay terminal device; or the remote terminaldevice sends the state information to the at least one second accessnetwork device through the relay terminal device.

In some implementation, the operation that the remote terminal devicedetermines the state information includes an operation as follows. Theremote terminal device determines the state information based on qualityinformation on a link between the remote terminal device and the networkdevice.

In some implementation, the operation that the remote terminal devicedetermines the state information includes an operation as follows. Thestate information is determined based on quality information between alink between the remote terminal device and a relay terminal devicehaving the subscription relationship and/or the connection relationshipwith the remote terminal device.

In some implementation, the operation that the remote terminal devicesends the state information to the network device includes an operationas follows. The remote terminal device sends the state information tothe first access network device.

In some implementation modes, the operation that the remote terminaldevice sends the state information to the network device includes anoperation as follows. The remote terminal device sends the stateinformation to the first core network device.

In some implementation, the operation that the remote terminal devicesends the state information to the network device includes an operationas follows. The remote terminal device sends the state information tothe at least one second access network device, where the first accessnetwork device is different from the at least one second access networkdevice.

In some implementation, after the operation that the remote terminaldevice sends the state information to the network device, the methodfurther includes an operation as follows. The remote terminal devicereceives a paging message sent by the first access network device basedon the state information.

In some implementation, the operation that the remote terminal devicereceives the paging message sent by the first access network devicebased on the state information includes an operation as follows. If thestate information indicates that the remote terminal device is withinthe coverage of the network, the remote terminal device monitors an airinterface message and receives the paging message sent by the firstaccess network device through the air interface message.

In some implementation, the operation that the remote terminal devicereceives the paging message sent by the first access network devicebased on the state information includes an operation as follows. If thestate information indicates that the remote terminal device has thesubscription relationship and/or the connection relationship with therelay terminal device, the remote terminal device receives the pagingmessage seat by the first access network device through the relayterminal device.

In some implementation, the operation that the remote terminal devicereceives the paging message sent by the first access network devicethrough the relay terminal device if the state information indicatesthat the remote terminal device has the subscription relationship and/orthe connection relationship with the relay terminal device includesoperations as follows. If the state information indicates that theremote terminal device has the subscription relationship and/or theconnection relationship with the relay terminal device and the remoteterminal device is within the coverage of the network, the networkdevice receives the paging message sent by the first access networkdevice through the relay terminal device. In practical, the remoteterminal device may also receive the paging message through the airinterface message, which is not limited in the embodiments of thedisclosure. The manner for receiving the patting message may bedetermined according to specification of the protocol or configurationof the network.

In some implementation, the operation that the remote terminal device toreceives the paging message sent by the first access network devicebased on the state information includes an operation as follows. If thestate information indicates that the remote terminal device has nosubscription relationship and/or connection relationship with the relayterminal device and the remote terminal device is out of the coverage ofthe network, the remote terminal device receives the paging message sentby the first access network device through the relay terminal device.

A device for paging is provided in a third aspect, which is configuredto execute the method in the first aspect or any possible implementationof the first aspect. Specifically, the device includes units configuredto execute the above method in the first aspect or any possibleimplementation of the first aspect.

A device for paging is provided in a fourth aspect, which is configuredto execute the method in the second aspect or any possibleimplementation of the second aspect. Specifically, the device includesunits configured to execute the above method in the second aspect or anypossible implementation of the second aspect.

A system for paging is provided in a fifth aspect, which includes thedevice in the third aspect or any optional implementation of the thirdaspect and the device in the fourth aspect or any optionalimplementation of the fourth aspect.

A device for paging is provided in a sixth aspect, which may include amemory, a processor, an inputs output interface and a communicationinterface. The memory, the processor, the input/output interlace and thecommunication interface are connected communicatively. The memory isconfigured to store an instruction, and the processor is configured toexecute the instruction stored in the memory. When the instruction isexecuted, the processor executes the method in the first aspect throughthe communication interface and controls the input/output interface toreceive inputted data and information and output data such as anoperation result.

A device for paging is provided in a seventh aspect, which may include amemory, a processor, an input/output interface and a communicationinterface. The memory, the processor, the input/output interface and thecommunication interface are connected communicatively. The memory isconfigured to store an instruction, and the processor is configured toexecute the instruction stored in the memory. When the instruction isexecuted, the processor executes the method in the second aspect throughthe communication interface and controls the input/output interface toreceive inputted data and information and output data such as anoperation result.

A computer-readable medium is provided in an eighth aspect, which storesa program code to be executed by a terminal device. The program codeincludes an instruction configured to execute the method in the firstaspect or each implementation of the first aspect.

A computer-readable medium is provided in a ninth aspect, which stores aprogram code to be executed by a network device. The program codeincludes an

instruction configured to execute the method in the second aspect oreach implementation of the second aspect.

A method for paging is provided in a tenth aspect, which includesoperations as follows. A relay terminal device determines stateinformation of a remote terminal device, where the state information isused by a network device to determine a paging manner for paging theremote terminal device. The relay terminal device sends the stateinformation to the network device.

According to the method for paging of the disclosure, the relay terminaldevice sends the state information of the remote terminal device to thenetwork device the network device determines the paging manner forpaging the remote terminal device based on the received stateinformation, thereby avoiding a paging failure caused by blind paging ofthe network device, and ensuring that the network device correctly pagesthe remote terminal device.

Optionally, the state information is used to indicate whether the remoteterminal device has a subscription relationship and/or a connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, and/or indicate whether theremote terminal device is within coverage of a network.

Optionally, the state information may also indicate whether the remoteterminal device has a trust relationship with the relay terminal device.

In some implementation, the operation that the relay terminal devicesends the state information to the network device includes an operationas follows. The relay terminal device sends the state information to thenetwork device through an air interface message.

In some implementation, the network device is a first access networkdevice.

The operation that the relay terminal device sends the state informationto the network device includes operations as follows.

The relay terminal device sends the state information to the firstaccess network device.

Alternatively, the relay terminal device sends the state information toa first core network device, and the first core network device isconfigured to send the state information to the first access networkdevice.

Alternatively, the relay terminal device sends the state information toat least one second access network device, and the at least one secondaccess network device is configured to send the state information to thefirst access network device.

In some implementation, the method further includes operations asfollows. The relay terminal device receives a paging message sent by thefirst access network device, and the relay terminal device sends thepaging message to the remote terminal device.

A device for paging is provided in an eleventh aspect, which isconfigured to execute the above method in the tenth aspect or anypossible implementation of the tenth aspect. Specifically, the deviceincludes function modules configured to execute the above method in thetenth aspect or any possible implementation of the tenth aspect.

A device for paging is provided in a twelfth aspect, which may include amemory, a processor, an input/output interface and a communicationinterface. The memory, the processor, the input/output interface and thecommunication interface are connected communicatively, the memory isconfigured to store an instruction, and the processor is configured toexecute the instruction stored in the memory. When the instruction isexecuted, the processor executes the method in the tenth aspect or anyimplementation mode of the tenth aspect through the communicationinterface, and controls the input/output interface to receive inputteddata and information and output data such as an operation result.

A computer-readable medium is provided in a thirteenth aspect, whichstores a program code to be executed by a terminal device. The programcode includes an instruction used to execute the method in the tenthaspect or each implementation of the tenth aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an application scenario accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a method for paging according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing another method for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a device for paging according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing another device for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a system for paging according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG, 7 is a schematic diagram showing a device for paging according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing another device for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing another method for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another device for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another system for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing another device for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the technical solutions of the embodimentsof the disclosure may be applied to various communication systems, suchas, a global system of mobile communication (GSM), a code divisionmultiple access (CDMA) system, a wideband code division multiple access(WCDMA) system, a general packet radio service (GPRS), a long termevolution (LTE) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system,LTE time division duplex (TDD), a universal mobile telecommunicationsystem (UMTS), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX)communication system, a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a futurefifth Generation (5G) system.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, a terminal device may be calleduser equipment (UE), a terminal device, a mobile station (MS), a mobileterminal, a terminal device in the future 5G network or the like. Theterminal device may communicate with one or more core networks through aradio access network (RAN). For example, a terminal may be a mobilephone (or called a cellular phone) and a computer having a mobileterminal. For example, the terminal may also be a portable mobiledevice, a pocket-size mobile device, a handheld mobile device, acomputer-embedded mobile device or a vehicle-mounted mobile device, andexchange voice and/or data with the radio access network.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, an access network device may be abase station controller (BSC) in the GSM or CDMA, may also be a radionode controller (RNC) in WCDMA, and may also be an evolved node B(abbreviated as eNB or e-NodeB) in LTE, ca a relay station or accesspoint, or a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device and an accessnetwork device in the future 5G network which is not limited in thedisclosure.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, a core network device includes amobility management entity (MME) and a serving general packet radioservice (GPRS) support node (SGSN).

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an application scenario accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure, which includes a network device 110,a relay terminal device 120, a remote terminal device 130 and a cellularterminal device 140.

The network device 110 is configured to perform communication with acellular terminal device 140 through an air interface, and alsoconfigured to communicate with the remote terminal device 130 throughthe relay terminal device 120. For example, the network device 110 maysend a paging message to the relay terminal device 120. The pagingmessage is used to page the remote terminal device 130.

The relay terminal device 120 is configured to communicate with thenetwork device 110, or is configured to communicate with the remoteterminal device 130, or is configured to forward uplink data of theremote terminal device 130 to the network device 110, and may also beconfigured to forward downlink data of the network device 110 to theremote terminal device 130. Communication between the relay terminaldevice 120 and the remote terminal device 130 may be called D2Dcommunication. D2D communication is a direct communication technologybetween terminal devices. The neighboring relay terminal device 120 andremote terminal device 130 perform data transmission through adirect-connected link without forwarding of the network device 110.Communication between the relay terminal device 120 and the remoteterminal device 130 has the following advantages. The communication hasa high data rate, a short delay and low power consumption within largenetwork coverage, and raises a utilization rate of a frequency resourceand obtains a space division multiplexing gain of the resource. It is tobe understood that, in the embodiment of the disclosure, the D2D refersto a direct communication technology for a terminal sharing licensedfrequency band resources with a cellular system, to form a uniformhybrid cellular and D2D network.

The remote terminal device 130 is configured to communicate with therelay terminal device 120. Alternatively, in responsive to that theremote terminal device 130 is within coverage of the network device 110,the remote terminal device 130 may directly communicate with the networkdevice 110. In responsive to that the remote terminal device 130 is outof the coverage of the network device 110, the remote terminal device130 may communicate with the network device 110 through the relayterminal device 120.

The cellular terminal device 140 is configured to directly communicatewith the network device 110 in a cellular communication manner.

It is to be understood that, in the application scenario of theembodiment of the disclosure, in responsive to that the relay terminaldevice 120 assists the remote terminal device 130 to communicate withthe network device 110, a D2D communication mode is used between theremote terminal device 130 and the relay terminal device 120, and acellular communication mode is used between the relay terminal device120 and the network device. The relay terminal device 120 receives andforwards data in a half-duplex manner, and in a receiving and forwardingprocess, switches the cellular communication mode to the D2Dcommunication mode or switches the D2D communication node to thecellular communication mode.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart showing a method 200 for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 shows steps oroperations of the method for paging provided in the embodiment of thedisclosure. However, these steps or operations are only exemplary. Otheroperations or variants of each operation in FIG. 2 may also be executedin the embodiment of the disclosure. The method 200 includes S210 andS220.

In S210, a remote terminal device determines state information.

Optionally, the state information is used to indicate whether the remoteterminal device has a subscription relationship and/or a connectionrelationship with a relay terminal device, and/or indicate whether theremote terminal device is within coverage of a network.

In S220, the remote terminal device sends the state information to anetwork device. The state information is used to determine a pagingmanner for paging the remote terminal device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart showing a method 300 for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 shows steps oroperations of the method for paging provided in the embodiment of thedisclosure. However, these steps or operations are only exemplary. Otheroperations or variants of each operation in FIG. 3 may also be executedin the embodiment of the disclosure. The method 300 includes S310 toS330.

In S310, a network device receives state information of a remoteterminal device.

Optionally, the state information is used to indicate whether the remoteterminal device has a subscription relationship and/or a connectionrelationship with a relay terminal device, and/or indicate whether theremote terminal device is within coverage of a network.

In S320, the network device determines a paging manner for paging theremote terminal device based on the state information.

Optionally, the paging manner includes paging through an air interfacemessage or paging through a relay terminal device having thesubscription relationship and or the connection relationship with theremote terminal device.

In S330, the network device pages the remote terminal device in thepaging manner.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the terminal device reports stateinformation thereof, and the network device determines a manner forpaging the terminal device based on the state information. For example,in responsive to that the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, the network device maydetermine to send a paging message to the remote terminal device throughthe relay terminal device, and the remote terminal device receives thepaging message sent by the relay terminal device. In responsive to thatthe state information indicates that the remote terminal device ispresently within the coverage of the network, the network device maysend the paging message to the remote terminal device through the airinterface message, and the remote terminal device monitors the pagingmessage at an air interface. In this manner, the network device mayselect different manners to page the remote terminal device based ondifferent state information of the remote terminal device, therebyavoiding a paging failure caused in a case that the network deviceperforms paging through an air interface message when the remoteterminal device is out of the coverage of the network, and avoiding apaging failure caused in a case that network device performs paging bythe relay terminal device when the remote terminal device has no trustrelationship with the relay terminal device. With the method for pagingof the embodiments of the disclosure, paging accuracy can be ensured.

In an optional embodiment, S210 includes operations as follows. Theremote terminal device determines the state information based on qualityinformation on a link between the remote terminal device and the networkdevice within the coverage of the network, and/or based on qualityinformation on a link between the remote terminal device and a relayterminal device having the subscription relationship and/or theconnection relationship with the remote terminal device. Therefore, thestate information includes identification information of the networkwhere the remote terminal device is located, and quality information ona link between the remote terminal device and a network devicecorresponding to the identification information of the network, and/or,the state information includes identification it of the relay terminaldevice having the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the remote terminal device, and the qualityinformation on a link between the remote terminal device and the relayterminal device.

Specifically, the remote terminal device may determine the qualityinformation on the link based on received reference signal receivingpower (RSRP). For example, in responsive to that the RSRP is greaterthan a first threshold value, a present link quality may be consideredto meet a communication requirement, and thus the remote terminal devicemay be considered to be within the coverage of the network. Inresponsive to that the RSRP is less than or equal to the first thresholdvalue, the present link quality may be considered not to meet thecommunication requirement, and the remote terminal device may beconsidered to be out of the coverage of the network. The remote terminaldevice may report information on the link quality which meets thecommunication requirement, and may also report information on the linkquality which does not meet the communication requirement, which is notlimited in the embodiment of the disclosure. The remote terminal devicemay also determine whether the remote terminal device has thesubscription relationship and/or the connection relationship with therelay terminal device based on quality of a link between the remoteterminal device and the relay terminal device. In responsive to thatRSRP between the remote terminal device and the relay terminal device isgreater than a second threshold value, it may be considered that theremote terminal device has the subscription relationship and/or theconnection relationship with the relay terminal device. In responsive tothat the RSRP between the remote terminal and the relay terminal deviceis less than or equal to the second threshold value, it may beconsidered that the remote terminal device has no subscriptionrelationship and/or connection relationship with the relay terminaldevice. The remote terminal device may report information indicatingthat there is the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship, and may also report information indicating that there isno subscription relationship and/or connection relationship, which isnot limited in the embodiments of the disclosure. In practical, besidesthe remote terminal device can report the information about whetherthere is the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship between the remote terminal device and the relay terminaldevice, the relay terminal device may also report the information aboutwhether there is the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship between the relay terminal device and the remote terminaldevice, which is not limited in the embodiments of the disclosure.

As an optional embodiment, S220 includes an operation as follows. Theremote terminal device sends the state information to the network devicethrough an air interface message. S310 includes an operation as follows.The network device receives the state information through the airinterface message. Specifically, in responsive to that the remoteterminal device determines that the remote terminal device is within thecoverage of the network, the remote terminal device sends the stateinformation to the network device through the air interface message. Inresponsive to that the remote terminal device determines that the remoteterminal device is out of the coverage of the network, the remoteterminal device sends the state information to the network devicethrough the relay terminal device. That is, in this case, the remoteterminal device determines whether the remote terminal device is withinthe coverage of the network device. If the remote terminal device iswithin the coverage of the network device, the remote terminal devicereports the state information by the air interface message. If theremote terminal device is not within the coverage of the network device,the remote terminal device reports the state information by the relayterminal device.

As an optional embodiment, S220 includes an operation as follows. Theremote terminal device sends the state information through the relayterminal device. S310 includes an operation as follows. The networkdevice receives the state information sent by the remote terminal devicethrough the relay terminal device. Specifically, in responsive to thatthe remote terminal device determines that the remote terminal devicehas the subscription relationship and/or the connection relationshipwith the relay terminal device, the remote terminal device determines toreport the state information to the network device by the relay terminaldevice. In this case, the remote terminal device determines whether theremote terminal device has the subscription relationship and/or theconnection relationship with the relay terminal device. If the remoteterminal device has the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, the remote terminal devicereports the state information to the network device by the relayterminal device. More specifically, when the remote terminal devicedetermines that the remote terminal device has no subscriptionrelationship and/or connection relationship with the relay terminaldevice, the remote terminal device determines whether the remoteterminal device is within the coverage of the network. If the remoteterminal device is within the coverage of the network, the stateinformation is reported by the air interface message. If remote terminaldevice is out of the coverage of the network, the state information isreported by the relay terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the network device is a first access network.device. S220 includes an operation as follows. The remote terminaldevice sends the state information to the first access network device.S310 includes an operation as follows. The first access network devicereceives the state information of the remote terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, S220 includes operations as follows. Theremote terminal device sends the state information to a first corenetwork device, and the first core network device sends the stateinformation to the first access network device, S310 includes anoperation as follows. The first access network device receives the stateinformation sent by the first core network device. Optionally, the firstcore network device sends the state information to the first accessnetwork device through a first paging request message, and the firstaccess network device receives the first paging request message sent bythe first core network device. The first paging request message carriesthe state information.

As an optional embodiment, S220 includes operations as follows. Theremote terminal device sends the state information to at least onesecond access network device, and the at least one second access networkdevice sends the state information to the first access network device.S310 includes an operation as follows. The first access network devicereceives the state information sent by the at least one second accessnetwork device. Optionally, the at least one second access networkdevice sends the state information to the first access network devicethrough a second paging request message, and the first access networkdevice receives the second paging request message sent by the at leastone second access network device. The second paging request messagecarries the state information.

It is to be understood that, in the embodiment of the disclosure, thereare three manners for reporting the state information. In a firstmanner, the remote terminal device may directly report the stateinformation to a first access network device having the connectionrelationship with the remote terminal device, and the first accessnetwork device determines the paging manner for paging the remoteterminal device based on the state information. In a second manner, theremote terminal device may report the state information to a first corenetwork device having the connection relationship with the remoteterminal device, the first core network device sends the stateinformation to the first access network device, and the first accessnetwork device determines the manner for paging the remote terminaldevice based on the state information. Alternatively, the first corenetwork device determines the paging manner for paging the remoteterminal device based on the state information, and sends informationabout the paging manner to the first access network device. For example,the information about the paging manner may be identificationinformation of the relay terminal device and the like, which is not belimited in the embodiment of the disclosure. In a third manner, theremote terminal device may report the state information to the at leastone second access network device, the at least one second access networkdevice sends the state information to the first access network device,and the first access network device determines the manner for paging theremote terminal device based on the state information. Alternatively,the at least one second access network device determines the pagingmanner for paging the remote terminal device based on the stateinformation, and sends the information about the paging manner to thefirst access network device. For example, the information about thepaging manner may be the identification information of the relayterminal device and the like. It is to be noted that the first accessnetwork device and the at least one second access network device may beaccess network devices within the coverage of the same first corenetwork device, or access network devices in the same paging area, whichis not limited in the embodiment of the disclosure. In practical, thefirst access network device is different from each of the at least onesecond access network device.

The network device determines the paging manner for paging the remoteterminal device based on the state information in the following ways.

In a first way, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device is within the coverage of the network, the networkdevice determines that the paging manner for the remote terminal deviceis paging through the air interface message. In this way, if the stateinformation indicates that the remote terminal device is within thecoverage of the network, the network device sends a paging message bythe air interface message no matter whether the remote terminal devicehas the subscription relationship and/or the connection relationshipwith the relay terminal device.

In a second way, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, the network devicedetermines that the paging manner for the remote terminal device ispaging through the relay terminal device. In this way, if the stateinformation indicates that the remote terminal device has thesubscription relationship and/or the connection relationship with therelay terminal device, the network device sends the paging message bythe relay terminal device no matter whether the remote terminal deviceis within the coverage of the network.

In a third way, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, and the remote terminaldevice is within the coverage of the network, the network devicedetermines that the paging manner for the remote terminal device ispaging through the relay terminal device.

In fourth way, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, and the remote terminaldevice is within the coverage of the network, the network devicedetermines that the paging manner for the remote terminal device ispaging through the air interface message.

In a fifth way, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has no subscription relationship and/or connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, and the remote terminaldevice is out of the coverage of the network, the network devicedetermines that the paging manner for the remote terminal device ispaging through the relay terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, after the operation that the remote terminaldevice sends the state information to the network device, the method 200further includes an operation as follows. The remote terminal devicereceives a paging message sent by the first access network device basedon the state information.

The remote terminal device receives the paging message sent by the fastaccess network device based on the state information in the followingmanners.

In a first manner, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device is within the coverage of the network, the remoteterminal device monitors an air interface message and receives thepaging message sent by the first access network device through the airinterface message. In this manner, if the state information indicatesthat the remote terminal device is within the coverage of the network,the remote terminal device receives the paging message by the airinterface message no matter whether the remote terminal device has thesubscription relationship and/or the connection relationship with therelay terminal device.

In a second manner, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, the remote terminal devicereceives the paging message sent by the first access network devicethrough the relay terminal device. In this manner, if the stateinformation indicates that the remote terminal device has thesubscription relationship and/or the connection relationship with therelay terminal device, the network device receives the paging message bythe relay terminal device no matter whether the remote terminal deviceis within the coverage of the network.

In a third manner, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, and the remote terminaldevice is within the coverage of the network, the remote terminal devicereceives the paging message sent by the first access network devicethrough the relay terminal device.

In a fourth manner if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device and the remote terminaldevice is within the coverage of the network, the remote terminal devicemonitors the air interface message and receives the paging message sentby the first access network device through the air interface message.

In a fifth manner, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has no subscription relationship and/or connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device and the remote terminaldevice is out of the coverage of the network, the remote terminal devicereceives the paging message sent by the first access network devicethrough the relay terminal device.

It is to be understood that the remote terminal device receives thepaging message in any one of the above five manners, and the networkdevice may send the paging message in the way corresponding to the abovemanner. Specifically, if the terminal device receives the paging messagein the first manner, the network device sends the paging message in thefirst way. If the terminal device receives the paging message in thesecond manner, the network device sends the paging message in the secondway. If the terminal device receives the paging message in the thirdmanner, the network device sends the paging message in the third way. Ifthe terminal device receives the paging message in the fourth manner,the network device sends the paging message in the fourth way. If theterminal device receives the paging message in the fifth manner, thenetwork device sends the paging message in the fifth way. Which manneris adopted may be determined according to specification of the protocolor configuration of the network, which is not be limited in theembodiment of the disclosure.

It is to be noted that, in the embodiment of the disclosure, whether theremote terminal device is within the coverage of the network may bedetermined by determining whether the remote terminal device is withincoverage of an access network device, or whether the remote terminaldevice is within coverage of a core network device, or whether theremote terminal device is within coverage of multiple access networkdevices in the same paging area. The network, within the coverage ofwhich the terminal device is, is determined, and then the stateinformation may be determined to be identification information of thenetwork, and quality information on a link between the terminal deviceand the network.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a device 400 for paging accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure. The device may be the network devicein the method 300. As shown in FIG. 4, the device 400 includes atransceiver module 410 and a determination module 420.

The transceiver module 410 is configured to receive state information ofa remote terminal device.

The determination module 420 is configured to determine a paging mannerfor paging the remote terminal device based on the state information.

The transceiver module 410 is further configured to page the remoteterminal device in the paging manner.

As an optional embodiment, the state information is used to indicatewhether the remote terminal device has a subscription relationshipand/or a connection relationship with a relay terminal device, and/orindicate whether the remote terminal device is within coverage of anetwork.

As an optional embodiment, the paging manner includes paging through anair interface message or paging through a relay terminal device havingthe subscription relationship and/or the connection relationship withthe remote terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the determination module 420 is configuredto, if the state information indicates that the remote terminal deviceis within the coverage of the network, determine that the paging mannerfor the remote terminal device is the paging through the air interfacemessage.

As an optional embodiment, the determination module 420 is furtherconfigured to, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, determine that the pagingmanner for the remote terminal device is the paging through the relayterminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the determination module 420 is furtherconfigured to, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has the subscription relationship and/or the connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device and the remote terminaldevice is within the coverage of the network, determine that the pagingmanner for the remote terminal device is the paging through the relayterminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the determination module 420 is furtherconfigured to, if the state information indicates that the remoteterminal device has no subscription relationship and/or connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device and the remote terminaldevice is out of the coverage of the network, determine that the pagingmanner for the remote terminal device is the paging through the relayterminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the state information includes identificationinformation of a network where the remote terminal device is located,and quality information on a link between the remote terminal device anda network device corresponding to the identification information of thenetwork, and/or the state information includes identificationinformation of the relay terminal device having the subscriptionrelationship and for the connection relationship with the remoteterminal device and quality information on a link between the remoteterminal device and the relay terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module 410 is configured toreceive the state information sent by the remote terminal device throughan air interface message, or receive the state information sent by theremote terminal device through the relay terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the device 400 is a first access networkdevice, and the transceiver module 410 is further configured to receivethe state information. sent by a first core network device, where thestate information sent by the first core network device is sent to thefirst core network device by the remote terminal device; or receive thestate information sent by at least one second access network device,where the state information sent by the at least one second accessnetwork device is sent to the at least one second access network deviceby the remote terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module is further configuredto:

receive a first paging request message sent by the first core networkdevice, where the first paging request message carries the stateinformation.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module is further configuredto:

receive, by the first access network device, a second paging requestmessage sent by the at least one second access network device, where thesecond paging request message carries the state information.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a device 500 for paging accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure. The device may be the terminaldevice in the method 200. As shown in FIG. 5, the device 500 includes adetermination module 510 and a transceiver module 520.

The determination module 510 is configured to determine stateinformation.

The transceiver module 520 is configured to send the state informationto a network device, where the state information is used by the networkdevice to determine a paging manner for paging a remote terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the state information is used to indicatewhether the remote terminal device has a subscription relationshipand/or a connection relationship with a relay terminal device, and/or toindicate whether the remote terminal device is within coverage of anetwork.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module 520 is configured tosend the state information to the network device through an airinterface message, or send the state information to the network devicethrough the relay terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the determination module 510 is configured todetermine the state information based on quality information on a linkbetween the device 500 and the network device, and/or, based on qualityinformation on a link between the device and a relay terminal devicehaving the subscription relationship and/or the connection relationshipwith the device.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module 520 is configured tosend the state information to a first access network device, or send thestate information to a first core network device, or send the stateinformation to at least one second access network device. The firstaccess network device is different from the at least one second accessnetwork device.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module 520 is furtherconfigured to, after the state information is sent to the networkdevice, receive a paging message sent by the first access network devicebased on the state information.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module 520 is furtherconfigured to, if the state information indicates that the device iswithin the coverage of the network, monitor an air interface message andreceive the paging message sent by the first access network devicethrough the air interface message.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module 520 is furtherconfigured to, if the state information indicates that the device hasthe subscription relationship and/or the connection relationship withthe relay terminal device, receive the paging message sent by the firstaccess network device through the relay terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module 520 is furtherconfigured to, if the state information indicates that the device 500has the subscription relationship and/or the connection relationshipwith the relay terminal device and the device is within the coverage ofthe network, receive the paging message sent by the first access networkdevice through the relay terminal device.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module 520 is furtherconfigured to, if the state information indicates that the device has nosubscription relationship and/or connection relationship with the relayterminal device and the remote terminal device is out of the coverage ofthe network, receive the paging message sent by the first access networkdevice through the relay terminal device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a system 600 for paging accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure, which includes a device 400 and adevice 500.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing a device 700 an pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, the devicemay be the network device in the method 300. As shown in FIG. 7, thedevice 700 includes a memory 710, a processor 720, an input/outputinterface 730 and a communication interface 740. Herein, the memory 710,the processor 720, the input/output interface 730 and the communicationinterface 740 are connected through an internal connection path. Thememory 710 is configured to store an instruction. The processor 720 isconfigured to execute the instruction stored in the memory 720 tocontrol the input/output interface 730 to receive inputted data andinformation and output data such as an operation result, and control thecommunication interface 740 to send a signal.

The input/output interface 730 is configured to receive stateinformation of a remote terminal device. The processor 720 is configuredto determine a paging manner for paging the remote terminal device basedon the state information. The input/output interface 730 is furtherconfigured to page the remote terminal device in the paging manner.

It is to be understood that, in the embodiment of the disclosure, theprocessor 720 may use a universal central processing unit (CPU), amicroprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or oneor more integrated circuits, to execute a related program to implementthe technical solution provided in the embodiment of the disclosure.

It is also to be understood that the communication interface 740 usesbut is not limited to, for example, a transceiver device such as atransceiver, to implement communication between the device 700 andanother device or a communication network.

The memory 710 may include a read-only memory and a random accessmemory, and provides an instruction and data for the processor 720. Apart of the memory 720 may further include a non-volatile random accessmemory. For example, the memory 720 may further store type informationof a device.

It is to be understood that, the device 700 may correspond to thenetwork device in the method 300, and may realize correspondingfunctions of the network device in the method 300, which is not beelaborated herein for simplicity.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a device 800 for paging accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure. The device may be the terminaldevice in the method 200. As shown in FIG. 8, the device 800 includes amemory 810, a processor 820, an input/output interlace 830 and acommunication interface 840. Herein, the memory 810, the processor 820,the input/output interface 830 and the communication interface 840 areconnected through an internal connection path. The memory 810 isconfigured to store an instruction. The processor 820 is configured toexecute the instruction stored in the memory 820 to control theinput/output interface 830 to receive inputted data and information andoutput data such as an operation result, and control the communicationinterface 840 to send a signal.

The processor 820 is configured to determine state information. Theinput/output interface 830 is configured to send the state informationto a network device. The state information is used to determine a pagingmanner for paging a remote terminal device.

It is to be understood that the device 800 may correspond to theterminal device in the method 200, may realize corresponding functionsof the terminal device in the method 200, which is not elaborated hereinfor simplicity.

It is to be understood that, in the embodiment of the disclosure, theprocessor 820 may use a universal. CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC or oneor more integrated circuits, to execute a related program to implementthe technical solution provided in the embodiment of the disclosure.

It is also to be understood that the communication interface 840 usesbut is not limited to, for example, a transceiver device such as atransceiver, to implement communication between the device 800 andanother device or communication network.

The memory 810 may include a read-only memory and a random accessmemory, and provides an instruction and data for the processor 720. Apart of the processor 820 may further include a non-volatile randomaccess memory. For example, the processor 820 may further store typeinformation of a device.

FIG. 9 illustrates another method for paging according to an embodimentof the disclosure. It can be understood that interactions, described inthe method 1000 shown in FIG. 9, between a relay terminal device and aremote terminal device and between the relay terminal device and anetwork device are the same as those description in the methods 200 and300, and thus related descriptions are appropriately omitted foravoiding repetitions.

As shown in FIG. 9, the method 1000 includes S1010 and S1020.

In S1010, the relay terminal device determines state information of theremote terminal device. The state information is used by the networkdevice to determine a paging manner for paging the remote terminaldevice.

In S1020, the relay terminal device sends the state information to thenetwork device.

As an optional embodiment, S1020 includes an operation as follows. Therelay terminal device sends the state information to the network devicethrough an air interface message.

As an optional embodiment, the network device is a first access networkdevice. S1010 includes the following operations.

The relay terminal device sends the state information to the firstaccess network device.

Alternatively, the relay terminal device sends the state information toa first core network device, and the first core network device isconfigured to send the state information to the first access networkdevice.

Alternatively, the relay terminal device sends the state information toat least one second access network device, and the at least one secondaccess network device is configured to send the state information to thefirst access network device.

As an optional embodiment, the method 1000 further includes thefollowing operations.

The relay terminal device receives a paging message sent by the firstaccess network device.

The relay terminal device sends the paging message to the remoteterminal device.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a device 2000 for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure. The device may be therelay terminal device in the method 1000. As shown in FIG. 10, thedevice 2000 includes a determination module 2010 and a transceivermodule 2020.

The determination module 2010 is configured to determine stateinformation of a remote terminal device. The state information is usedby a network device to determine a paging manner for paging the remoteterminal device.

The transceiver module 2020 is configured to send the state informationto the network device.

The device for paging ac cording to the embodiment of the disclosuredetermines the state information of the remote terminal device and sendsthe state information to the network device, the network devicedetermines the paging manner for paging the remote terminal device basedon the state information of the remote terminal device, thereby avoidinga paging failure caused by blind paging of the network device, andensuring that the network device correctly pages the remote terminaldevice.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module 2020 is configured tosend the state information to the network device through an airinterface message.

As an optional embodiment, the network device is a first access networkdevice.

The transceiver module 2020 is configured to:

send the state information to the first access network device; or,

send the state information to a first core network device, where thefirst core network device is configured to send the state information tothe first access network device; or,

send the state information to at least one second access network device,where the at least one second access network device is configured tosend the state information to the first access network device.

As an optional embodiment, the transceiver module 2020 is furtherconfigured to:

receive a paging message sent by the first access network device; and

send the paging message to the remote terminal device.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a system for paging, 3000according to an embodiment of the disclosure, which includes a device400, a device 500 and a device 2000.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of a device 4000 for pagingaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure. The device may be therelay terminal device in the method 1000. As shown in FIG. 12, thedevice 4000 includes a memory 4010, a processor 4020, an input/outputinterface 4030 and a communication interface 4040. Herein, the memory4010, the processor 4020, the input/output interface 4030 and thecommunication interface 4040 are connected through an internalconnection path. The memory 4010 is configured to store an instruction.The processor 4020 is configured to execute the instruction stored inthe memory 4020 to control the input/output interface 4030 to receiveinputted data and information, output data such as an operation result,and control the communication interface 4040 to send a signal.

The processor 4020 is configured to determine state information of aremote terminal device. The state information is used by a networkdevice to determine a paging manner for paging the remote terminaldevice. The input/output interface 4030 is configured to send the stateinformation to the network device.

It is to be understood that the device 4000 may correspond to the relayterminal device in the method 1000, may realize corresponding functionsof the relay terminal device in the method 1000, which is not elaboratedherein for simplicity.

It is to be understood that, in the embodiment of the disclosure, theprocessor 4020 may adopt a universal CPU, a microprocessor, an ASIC orone or more integrated circuits, to execute a related program toimplement the technical solution provided in the embodiment of thedisclosure.

It is also to be understood that the communication interface 4040 usesbut is not limited to, for example, a transceiver device such as atransceiver to implement communication between the device 4000 andanother device or a communication network.

The memory 4010 may include a read-only memory and a random accessmemory and provides an instruction and data for the processor 4020. Apart of the processor 4020 may further include a non-volatile randomaccess memory. For example, the processor 4020 may further store typeinformation of a device.

It is to be understood that term “and/or” in the disclosure onlyrepresents an association relationship for describing associatedobjects, and may represent three relationships. For example, A and/or Bmay represent three conditions: i.e., only A, both A and B, and only B.In addition, a character “/” in the disclosure generally represents thatthere is an “or” relationship between two associated objects.

It is to be understood that, in various embodiments of the disclosure,sequence numbers of processes does not mean an execution sequence, andthe execution sequence of processes should be determined by a functionand an internal logic of each of the processes, and should not form anylimit to an implementation process of the embodiments of the disclosure.

Those skilled in the art may realize that units and algorithm steps ofeach example described in combination with the embodiments disclosed inthe disclosure can be implemented by electronic hardware or acombination of computer software and the electronic hardware. Whetherthese functions are executed in a hardware manner or a software mannerdepends on specific applications and design constraints of the technicalsolutions. Professionals may realize described functions with differentmethods for applications, but such realization shall fall within thescope of the disclosure.

Those skilled in the art may clearly learn about that for operationprocesses of the system, device and unit described above, reference maybe made to the corresponding processes in the above method embodiment,which is not be elaborated herein for convenient and brief description.

In some embodiments provided by the disclosure, it is to be understoodthat the disclosed system, device and method may be implemented inanother manner. For example, the device embodiment described above isonly schematic. For example, the units is only divided according tologic functions thereof, and the units may be divided in other mannerduring practical implementation. For example, multiple units orcomponents may be combined or integrated into another system, or somecharacteristics may be omitted or not executed. In addition, coupling ordirect coupling or a communication connection displayed or discussed maybe indirect coupling or communication connection through someinterfaces, the devices or the units, and may be electrical andmechanical or in other forms.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physicallyseparated, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physicalunits, that is, may be located in the same place, or may also bedistributed to multiple network units. A part or all of the units may beselected to achieve the purpose of the solutions of the embodimentsaccording to a practical requirement.

In addition, all functional units in each embodiment of the disclosuremay be integrated into a processing unit, or may also physically existindependently, or two or more than two units may also be integrated intoa unit.

If the function is realized in form of software functional unit and soldor used as an independent product, the function may also be stored in acomputer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, anessential part or a part making contributions to the related art of thetechnical solutions of the disclosure or a part of the technicalsolutions may be embodied in form of software product, and the computersoftware product is stored in a storage medium. The computer softwareproduct includes multiple instructions configured to enable a computerdevice (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device orthe like) to execute all or a part of the steps of the method in eachembodiment of the disclosure. The abovementioned storage mediumincludes: various media capable of storing program codes such as a Udisk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random accessmemory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

The foregoing is only the specific embodiments of the disclosure, andthe scope of protection of the disclosure is not limited thereto. Anyvariations or replacements easily appreciated by those skilled in theart within the technical scope disclosed by the disclosure shall fallwithin the scope of protection of the disclosure. Therefore, the scopeof protection of the disclosure shall conform to the scope of protectionof the claims.

1-52. (canceled)
 53. A method for paging, comprising: determining, by aremote terminal device, state information; and sending, by the remoteterminal device, the state information to a network device, wherein thestate information is used by the network device to determine a pagingmanner for paging the remote terminal device, wherein the stateinformation is used to indicate whether the remote terminal device has aconnection relationship with a relay terminal device.
 54. The method ofclaim 53, wherein the sending, by the remote terminal device, stateinformation to a network device comprises: sending, by the remoteterminal device, the state information to the network device through therelay terminal device.
 55. The method of claim 53, wherein thedetermining, by the remote terminal device, state information comprises:determining, by the remote terminal device, the state information basedon a connection relationship with the remote terminal device.
 56. Themethod of claim 53, after the sending, by the remote terminal device,the state information to a network device, further comprising:receiving, by the remote terminal device, a paging message sent by thefirst access network device based on the state information.
 57. Themethod of claim 56, wherein the receiving, by the remote terminaldevice, a paging message sent by the first access network device basedon the state information comprises: in responsive to that the stateinformation indicates that the remote terminal device has a connectionrelationship with the relay terminal device, receiving, by the remoteterminal device, the paging message sent by the first access networkdevice through the relay terminal device.
 58. A device for paging,comprising: a processor; an input/output interface; and a memory forstoring instructions executable by the processor, wherein the processoris configured to execute the instructions to determine stateinformation; and the input/output interface is configured to send thestate information to a network device, wherein the state information isused by the network device to determine a paging manner for paging theremote terminal device, wherein the state information is used toindicate whether the remote terminal device has a connectionrelationship with a relay terminal device.
 59. The device of claim 58,wherein the input/output interface is configured to: send the stateinformation to the network device through the relay terminal device. 60.The device of claim 58, wherein the processor is configured to executethe instructions to: determine the state information based on aconnection relationship with the device.
 61. The device of claim 58,wherein the input/output interface is further configured to: after thesending the state information the network device, receive a pagingmessage sent by the first access network device based on the stateinformation.
 62. The device of claim 61, wherein the input/outputinterface is further configured to: in responsive to that the stateinformation indicates that the device has a connection relationship withthe relay terminal device, receive the paging message sent by the firstaccess network device through the relay terminal device.